Towel vending cabinet



y 1935. J. DAR-MAN 2,002,568

TOWEL VENDING CABINET Original Filed Nov. 9, 1927 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 /fi 5 ml III/ I I Q/m/DMW J/MM 56 5 fi wafw y 1935- J. DARMAN 2,002,568

TOWEL VENDING CABINET Original Filed Nov. 9, 1927 5 Sheets-Sheet 2' y 28, 1935. J. DARMAN 2,002,568

TOWEL VEND ING CABINET Original Filed Nov. 9, 1927 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 y v J. DARMAN 2,002,568

TOWEL VENDING CABINET Original Filed Nov. 9, 1927 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 May 28, 1935. .J. DARMAN 2,002,568

TOWEL VENDING CABINET Original Filed Nov. 9, 1927 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 III) Patented May 28. 1935 I 2.002.568]- '1 Town ,YVENDIVNG CABINET,

Joseph Darman, Utica, N. Y., assignorto Utica Towel Cabinet -C'orp., Utica, N. Y.,':a corpora? tion of New York My invention relates toa towel vending cabinet', and I declare the following to be a full; clear,

concise and exact description thereofsufficient throughout the specification.

to enable'anyoneskilledin the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the. accompanying drawings in which like reference characters refer tolike parts Theobject of theinvntion is to'provide a maa chine'adapted'to hold a one piece towel or some part is accumulated and then cabinet of the machinei The passage of the towel fromone roller to the other is controlled-by certain mechanism hereinafter' describedadaptedto allow the towel to be pulled in suitable lengths, from a removable supply roller through an opening in the cabinet and thereafter wound upon a removable accumulating roller from whence it is taken inits soiled condition from the cabinet.

'The mechanism for allowing the towel tobe actuated thus is placed in operative condition by the insertion of a penny or other coinin a slot provided for the purpose. I

The machine will be serviceable particularly in public places where the furnishing of a clean towel at a nominal price is desirable. Furthermore, it removes from the unscrupulous and souvenir gatherer the temptation to pilfer.

The object will be understood by referring to ward the front ofthe machine, parts being broken used for supporting the device.

away.

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 33.of Fig. 2 and looking in the direction of the arrows indicated, parts being broken away. Fig. 4. is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 4 -4 of Fig. 2. and looking in the direction of the arrows indicated. Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view of a member employed for closing parts of thefront of the machine; p

Fig. 6 is a detail perspective view' of .a member employed forsupporting the upper casing and immediate parts.

Fig. 7 is a detail perspective view of a base piece Fig. 8 is adetail'perspective View of'certain connecting parts employed.

considerable length that is wound from one removable roller to anotherupon whichthe soiled removed from the i which portions the towel 3| passes.

Fig. '9 is a detail perspective View of the disappearing cover employed. Fig. 10 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line l0|0 of Fig. 2, parts being omittedf "Fig. 11 is a detail view showing a perspective of the mechanism for actuatingthe towel, parts being broken away.

' Fig. 12 is a detail perspective view of certain holding members employed. 2

Fig. 13 is a detail'perspective view' ofan actuator and'immediate parts employed."

Y This application is a substitutefor application filed November 9, 1927 Serial Number 232,148.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the device embodies anupper casing I made preferably of metal and forming a cabinet adapted to house portions of the towel and mechanism cess to the upper'part of the cabinet. A lower door. 6 is hinged at 1, l and is provided with a lock 8. Door 6 gives access'to the lower part of the-cabinet. There is also a swinging shutter or disappearing member ID. i

Member ID embodies a curved surface I] having its end portions bent at right angles and reduced in width to form arms-l2, 12 which are fulcrumed to the insidasurface of casing I at-l3, 13. The means for actuating member ID will be hereinafter described;

An intermediate or permanent partition is disposed just'in the rear of member). Partition 20 has formed therein two large apertures 2|, 2} adapted t'o allow for observation therethrough to the interior of the cabinet. Partition 20 is heldsuspended in position by brackets 25, thatare attached byr i'vets thereto and at the other end bolted at 26, 26 to the inside of.

casing I. Partition 20 has portions28 and 29 extending'in opposite directions thereto and formed at rightangles to the "body part 30, over Casing l'is fastened'along its lower edge at several locations by bolts to a casting or bot tom part 36. Part 36 is provided with a ridge 40 having apertures 4| therein forthe projectionof bolts 35. A recess 42 is made in part 36 i to accommodate certain" parts hereinafter described.; Ridge 40 is not continued acrossthe front; as at-43. A rectangular dependingfwall 45 is made integral with part B'S forthe purposeof forming' a channel 31 through theEbot tom surface of part 36. Wall 45 is reduced to provide a shoulderat 41 against-which theupper edge of casing 48 rests. Casing 48 is somewhat extended and nearly rectangular in shape, its sides, however, converge slightly towards the top thereof.

The lower edge of casing 48 rests against a shoulder 50 formed in the reduced upper part of lateral -walls 5l ,OiLflOQI piece 52.; Walls fil of floor piece-51 furnishsa chamber. for the reception of certain parts hereinafter described. A recess 53 is made through walls 5| which are enlarged at 54, and extended inwardly .,at,55,for the projection of a pedal 56 having cross piece 51. The lower part of floozzpieceifltapersdowm ward and has apertures 6mfon-theiprojectionfscrews or bolts to fasten the piece 52 to the floor, not shown.

The mechanism for hel-actuatipnq isap; pearing member I from full to dotted line posi; tion shown particularly in Figs. 3 and l, where; by to allow for exposure of towel 3I- embodies in .5.:- 5. that. are rivet d is? in. ch stance to the upper part and-near ,thefreeends of arms I2, IZ otmembezgll]. The opposite ends hypf the .links,65 are pivoted at I0 .to a ,IIv fixed toturjn with rod l2 rectangucross section -and carried inside plates I3, 13 of auxiliary frame 14.: The ends of rod 12ers nded of tqifi within e round e tures in plates I3, I3,=that form the bearings.

L .The turning of rod ;'I2, within;a given are of a circle will causearmsll 'II- toexert a pull on links tifid and hence effect the actuation of member lq i to dottedline position shown in Figs. 31and,fl upon its fulcrums I3, 13. Member I0 will be returned automatically -to its full line poiiiol tsh ein Fi s, 3, 4, d 11 bvc d SDihg ,-'I5, I5,tha t are fastened in each in stance at their lower ends to rock arms I6, I6

.fixed to turn with rod I2. The upper ends of springs .15, I5 are fastenedtoone of the spacetba i l f.au ar am V The meansforrocking rod "12 in the first mentioned-direction, wherebyto move member I0 to open position contemplates a. sector or mutilated gear 80 that is fixed to turnwith one. ofthe outer ends of rod 12. Gear 80 isdisposed beyond the suriae.o atera l e f xil r 14 and within the,wall of cover 8|. A member SS HhaVing a coinslot 80 is bolted to the lateral surface ofgear- 80 nearits top edge. Member 85 is disposed atgan angle downward,.whereby the 9 111 insthis in tan a'pe n 8. wi l ide downward and lodge against vertically movable actuator Q id dh;a ede e qr.rewirinaemede of n y di metrically opposite edge of penny 88 will resl 1 5 wh r by qfifi a rigid neqli h linkbetween gear 80' and actuator 80.

.Thedownward movement of actuator 89 will rotate, therefore,. gear 80 througha limited arc of a circle, or untilthe penny is drawn into s ch.,p s tie trheei warren av free from the slot 06 m member 85 into removable cup aq, whereupon gear 80 will return to its original position under the influence of the coiled $R fill 7 {Themeans for holding member I0 in full line position shown in -Figs. 3 and 4, whereby to prevent unauthorized persons from reaching towel 3,I; ur l ess a penny, 88 is placed in slot,36-, embodies releasing frock members 95 and 96.; Each of members 95 and 953s fixedto turn with a rock shaft 9-1 carried in bearings formed inside, plates of auxiliary'frame 14-. Rock members 95 and flli are disposed on the outside-cf plates. 13,

however, and are equipped with ends I00 and IM respectively that are formed at right angles thereto which project through enlarged openings I02, I02 made in plates I3, I3. Ends I00 and IM are reduced, whereby to permit the lower edges I03, I04 of members 95 and 96 respectively to move below, the lower'edge of/openings 50231.02 Ends IIIU-and I (H of members 95 and fi=respectively lie adjacent links 65, 65 which are formed with recesses I05, I05 for the purpose. The edges of links 515, 65 at the location of recesses I05, I05 are made parallel to the surfaces of ends I00 and IOI of ;member.s -95 and.-90, whereby to prevent any movement :oflsaid members 95 and 96 unless said ends I00 and Hit are first withdrawn from the location. of links 55;,05;

The means for actuating ends I00 and I 0| towards; engagipm-position with links 65, 65 embodies a beveled or tapered surface H0 formed on-the free end I I I of member 90, beyond its fulcrum The lower edge of tapered surface, H0 rests upon ,shaft H5 projecting laterally from bracket I ISbolted to gear80, whereby the turning of gear 80 in a counter clockwise direction will cause shaft I I5 to impingeagainst the lower edge ofv tapered surface H0 androck said members 95 and 90 in a counter clockwise directionto bring ends I00 and IM opposite the edges of links 65, 05 at the location of recesses I05,,I05, whereby to. hold member {I0 in closed position illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4. When gear SIlis turned in the opposite direction or clockwise shaft H5 will move downward and, thereby, allow member 96 to rock backto original position under influence of coiled spring I which is attached at one end to the free end of member 95 and at the other to the projecting part of spacing rod I2! of auxiliary frame '13, whereby to exert a pull downward adapted to hold members 95 and Qt in looking or full line position illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4. Members 95 and 96 being fixed to rock with shaft 9'! will turn together.

When gear 80 turns in a clockwise direction to permit the actuation of members 05 and 96 to move ends I0. and. IN away from links 65, 65 it will at the same time rock rod I2 and thereby actuate member In through the connections of links 65, 65 and arms II, II to dotted line position shown in Figs. 3 and 4. Immediately gear 80 stops turning in clockwise direction it will tend to turn in the reverse direction under influence of coiled springs 15, I5 which are intermediately connected therewith through rod-I2 as heretofore described. Gear 80 will be arrested-inits return movement under influence of springs I5, I5- when the lower end of stop member I which is bolted at I20, I26 to gear 80, comes in contact with the upper end of adjustable upstanding rod I21. Rod I2? is carried in a bearing made in bracket I28 that is fastened to the outer surface of one of the plates I3 of auxiliary frame 14... Nuts I30, I30 are mounted on rod I21 and disposed on opposite sides of the laterally projecting part of bracket I28, whereby to holdsaid rod I21 in given position. Stop member I25 can be moved on from theupper end of rod I2? in a clockwise direction but will be unable to pass therebeyond when returning in a clockwise direction.

Actuator 89 is mounted to slide in a vertical plane upon spacing bracket I that is bolted at I36, I36 to one of the plates I3 of auxiliary frame I -l, whereby said actuator isheld a short distance from the surface of side. plate 13;., To this end elongated slots, I38; I3,8- are made in actuator 89.

bracket I35. A coiled spring I 42 secured at one end to the horizontal part I43 of bracket I35 and at the other to screw bolt I44 mounted to actuator 80, tends to hold actuator yieldingly in uppermost position with bolts I40 resting against the lowermost edges of slots I38, I38.

Actuator 89 is drawn downward'against the tension of spring I42 by means ofa pedal 56 that has afoot piece 51 andis fulcrumed at I52 to the enlarged part 54 and extension 55 of walls 5I of floor'piece 52. A link I55 is pivotally connected at one end to the free or inner end of pedal 56 and at the "other to a bell crank lever I56 fulcrumed at I51 to shaft l58 carried in bearings I59, I59 madein part 36, which hasa recess at I60 for the projecting of lever I56.

' The other end of lever I 56is pivoted to'a shaft "I6I carried in bearings in the lower bifurcated enlarged ends of actuator 89. Pressure of the {foot on cross piece 51 of pedal 56 will'force link I55 upward and thereby rock lever I56 clockwise to draw actuator 89 downward againstthe tension of spring I42. I

This motion of actuator 89 will be an idle motion unless a penny is lodged between member 95 and actuator 89 as above described. When said penny is lodged thus, gear 80 will turn on its central pivot with the results aforementioned and also revolve ratchet pinion I that is mounted on the side of spur gear I66 to turn upon a common pivot I61 projecting laterally from bracket I68 bolted at I69 to a plate 13 of auxiliary A spring pressed pawl I10 pivotally mounted to the side of gear I66 is adapted to cause gearI66 and pinion I65 to turn together in a counter clockwise direction or during the initial turning of gear when actuator '89 is moving downwards, whereby to turn idle gear I12 with which it meshes. Idle gear I12 is mounted to turn freely upon an arbor I13 mounted to project laterally from the side of plate 13. Idle gear I12 meshes with a pinion I14 fixed on the end of a shaft I15 and adapted to turn with gear I16 also fixed to turn with shaft I15. Shaft I15 carries thereon and adapted to turn therewith, a roller I80 which is disposed between plates 19. f

I of auxiliary frame14. Shaft I15 has loose bearings in plates 13, 13.

Roller I80 is in contact with roller I BI mounted V on shaft I82 carried in bearings in plates 13, 13. "A spur gear I85 is mounted on the end and adaptv ed 'to turn with shaft I82.

Gear I85 is in mesh with gear I16, whereby rollers I80 and I8I will turn in opposite directions to pull towel 60 therethrough. Towel 60 is wound in the first instance before placing in thevcabinet on a removable roller I81 fixed to turn with shaft I88 carried in I open L shaped bearings I89made in plates 13, 13 of auxiliary frame 14. Towel 3I may be folded, however, and laid in the bottom part of the upper thence over rod'I9I fixed at either end to bell arms I92, I92. Arms I92, I92 are pivoted at-I93, I93 to plates 13 and are disposed on the outside thereof. Each of the arms I92 has a depending tooth .or pawl I94 adapted to engage with the teeth of gears I85 and I95 fixed to the ends of shaft I82 and intended to turn therewith. Teeth I94, I94 are held normally just above andoutof range'with the teeth of gears I85 and I95 by gear 203.

ment of the teeth of gears I85 and 195. The

functionof rod I which controls the action of teeth I94 on bell arms, I92 is to limit the amount of towel than can be withdrawn from roller. I81

each time the machine is operated by depositing a coin therein. I i

To this "end towel 3I passes almost directly downwardunderneath the lower surface of partition 20 the edges of which are rounded for the purpose, whereby a pull on towel 3| after the allowance has been made, will cause rod I9'I to move downward and, thereby, permit teeth I94 to engage'the teeth of gears I85 and I'to arres the further releasing of towel 3I 9 The end of towel 3 I is passed upwards over the upper surface of partition 20 having rounded edges for the purpose and thence back underneath roller 20 mounted to turn with shaft 20I carried in bearings in plates 13, 13 of auxiliary frame 14. One end of shaft 20I has mounted to turn therewith a pinion 202. Pinion 202 meshes with an idle gear 203 mounted to turn freely on a shaft 204 extending laterally from bracket 205 which is bolted at 206 to plate 13. A ratchet pinion 201is mounted also on shaft 204 adjacent Spring pressed pawl 208 'pivotally mounted to the side of gear 203 is adapted to cause pinion 201 to turn with gear203 in one direction and to allow it to turn idle in the other. Pinion 201 is in mesh with sector or mutilated gear 80,

whereby the turning of gear 80 will turn pinion 291 andalso when turningin a counter clockwise direction gear 203, pinion 202 and roller 200a, whereby to cause towel 3I to wind upon'removable roller 2I0, which is above roller 202 and is revolved by its contact with roller200a. Roller 200a is allowed to turn only in one direction, whereby to prevent towel 3I from being pulled backward by ratchet pinion 2II fixedto turn with shaft 20 I. Ratchet pinion 2I I is engaged by pawl 2I2 pivoted at 2I3 to a plate 13 of auxiliary frame 14. Laterally projecting pin 2I4 prevents the free end of pawl 2I2 from moving out of range of the teeth "of said ratchet pinion 2, although sufficiently separated therefrom to allow pawl 2I2 to escape past the teeth of pinion 2 when turning clockwise.

Roller 2I0 is mounted on shaft 2I5 carried in open L shaped bearings 2I6, 2I6 formed iniremovable blocks 2 I 1 that are disposed between the upper edges of plates 13 and the top of casing I. In order to insure against the turning ofroller 200a and the consequent take up turning motion ofroller 2) when rollers I80 and I8I are revolved to. release towel 3I sufficient for wiping and drying ones hands thereon, there is provided a detent 2I8 adapted to engage the teeth of gear 203 andremain in engagement therewith while rollers I80 and I8I are feeding towel 3I outwardly. Detent 2I8 is fulcrumed at 2I9 to rock member 220' which is pivoted on shaft 22I that projects laterally froma plate 13 of auxiliary frame 14. Detent 2I8 is held yieldingly'in' position by spring 222 lthat engages at one end the top edge of .detent 2'-I8 and at the other end =engages a notch 223 made in the horizontally disposed end 224 of rock member220. The middle part 'of spring 222 is wound about bolt 225 projecting -laterally from the side of detent 2H3. Spring 222 will hold detent 2I8 yielding in given position illustrated in Fig. 13.

Detent 218 will be forced against the teeth of gear 20:3- when actuator .89 ismoving downward, whereby to prevent theactuatio-n of rollers 290a and ,2'I0:by the contact of roller bearing 22.6 'against the beveled surface 22"! of rock member .220. .As actuator :89 moves downwardly roller bearing 226-",wi1l actuate rock member 220 into dotted line position illustrated in Fig. 13.

, It :will':return to "normal position illustrated in full lines in Fig.. 13, whereby detent 2A8 Will be free from the teeth of gear .2I33 under force of spring 230 that is wound aboutshaft 22 2i and has zone and bearing againstjthe front edge of rock member 220 and theother, on upper edge of a plate I3 of auxiliary frame I4.

Auxiliary frame 7 1 bywhich most of the above parts is supported is made adjustable with reference to part 36s To this end the lowersections .of plates F73, T3 are bent at right angles 'as at 23I 1231.10 lay flat against the surface of part 38 andprovid'edwith elongated slots 232 for the projection of bolts 233 that hold said plates 73 to the upper surface of part .35.

.extensionmember 2M having a slot 24! for the passage of a coin as '88 is bolted to the aside-of upper casing I. a Member 24s is disposed :in such manner that slot 2M thereof will be in prolongation-of slot 85 of member '85, whereby said. :coin 88*will be permitted to pass thereto. .Shieldnor depending stop member245 is made integral .withmember 85. It is formed on the arc ofia circle concentric with the perimeter of vgearxall and is adapted to arrest or stop the passage of coin 8.8 at the end of slot MI in member :Mfluntil the return of member 85having .slot iilfitherein hasmoved back to original posi- .tion; :This function of stop member 1245 will insure the passage of coin88 to its final lodgment zagainst'actuator .89 even although the operator :should drop a coin 88 .in slot 2M before the operating parts have returned to their original posi- :Theoperation of'the device is effected by first dropping acoin as 188 in slotfidl and thenv stepgpinglon footpedal 5.6. Coin 8 8 will pass through slots 24'! and 286 toaposition that will bridge the space between actuator 89' and member 85 which T will move then downward causing gear 88 to turn therewith box 990.

The turning of gear 60 will cause bracket H5 coin .8-8 falls by gravity into :carryingrshaftI-lfi to move away from under one end of :member '96 which'together with member .95 .also on shaft -91 will rock ends I89 and IIII to ,moveupward and away from the location of links 1*85, =65 whereby to permit the elevation of disappearingmember .Il operated by gear 489 through its intermediate connections by way of rod 12 arms 11 and linksfidi-ESE.

The elevation of member II will permit the op- .erator to grasp towel ilInwhich will be fed out- -.I:8-0 andaIBI; In thi'sqdownward movement of actuator 188, matohet pinion 5297 will turn idle Eso as not .to' cause roller 20.00, to turn and take up the slackness of towel SI as fed from between rollers 1:86 and I;8I. Inthe event the operator should attempt to secure more of towel 31 than is allowed by pulling thereon, rod IQI will be forced downward by the pull and thereby cause teeth 1-94 of arms I92 to engage the teeth of gears I85 and I95. This will prevent the further turning of rollers I80 and -I8I and the escape of towel 3| therepast.

' Assoon as the operator releases foot pedal 56, actuator 89 will move upward under influence of spring I-42-to its original position. Gear 80 will turn in the :reverse direction under influence of springs l5, l5, intermediately connected therewith through arms 16, I8 and rod 12 upon release of towel 3i. In'this reverse motion of gear .80, ratchet pinion IE5 will turn idle, so that rollers 18% and I8! will not turn and feed towel 31 outwardly. The return movement of gear .80 will cause the reverse turning of rod I2 which through arms II, 1-! and links 65, 65 will move member In to closing position illustrated in full lines Figs. 3 and 4. Simultaneously, gear 80 will cause the turning of ratchet pinion 207 and gear 283 which is fixed to turn with shaft 9? and thereby actuate members '95 and :96 to bring ends we and H81 respectively into locking position relative to links 65, B5.

The turning of gear 203 will turn also pinion 2% and, therefore, roller 269a, whereby to effect a turning of removable roller 2i 6 upon which the soiled towel is accumulated. When towel .3I has been wound .completely upon roller 2 I0, door 3 can be opened and roller 2M removed. Likewise lower door. 6 can be opened and a clean towel 3| wound upon a roller, as I S"! inserted therein in place of the empty roller. Occasionally, cover 8! which is held in position by a depending lug .259 on the top portion fitting into a recess in the horizontal part 2-5;I of easing I and by lug 2 .52 of part 3'6 projecting through a complementary recess in the lower part of cover BI, can :be removed by unlocking padlock 255 removably mounted to lug 252 through an aperture .256 therein and swinging the bottom portion of cover 82 outwardly and then elevating it to allow lug b to clear its recess in partZEiI of casing I Cup 98 containing the pennies can be emptied and replaced and cover 8i again put in placeand padlocked. Doors 3 and 6 will be closed and locked. The cabinet is ready then for further use.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is as follows:

1. In a towel vending cabinet, means for exposing a towel, a gear for controlling the operation of said means, a coin chute on said gear to support a coin and a vertically movable member having means to engage a coin for actuating said gear, said chute being arranged to'permit the coin to rest against the vertically movable member while supported in said chute in the path of the means-on the said vertically movable member.

2. In a towel vending cabinet, means for exposing a towel, a gear for controlling the operation of said means, a coin chute on said gear to support a coin in horizontal position, and a verti'cally movable member having means to engage a coin for actuating said gear, said chute being arranged to permit the coin to rest against the vertically movable member while supported in I said chute in the path of the means on said vertically movable member.

' JOSEPH DARMAN. 

